Wednesday, December 11, 2013

I've been dreading this kind of freeze, the coldest since the big FREEZE in , what was it... 08 , But I planted this Acacia pravissima in 2011 anyway , never mind that I lost nearly every zone 8 and 9 plant . What did I know then , I'd only just moved to the Pacific Northwest. Now a fair bit wiser , I still can't resist these Southern hemisphere natives. So far, I can't be sure, could be because they have been in the ground for a few years for …I think I have survivors

This Echreveria has been living under the Acacia , seems Ok. I moved the others and decided to risk this one . it's seems to be saying …. HA on you leaving me all on my own.

Dyckia 'Red Devil' supposedly zone 7 , looks like a bad highlighting job I planted in the driest place I could find , under the Cotinus with plenty of gravel and pebbles for drainage.

Now , this is the one I really want to survive. Eucalptus camphora . It's apparently rare and endangered in it's native Tasmania … oh please survive !

The carexs …no problem here

The Pittosporum tenufolium 'purpureum' left half dead in the last freeze. It struggled back and now quite a sentimental favorite.

Another Pittoporum , which one , I don't now , I bought it without a tag …

Within it bubble wrap shelter, Leucosceptrum stellipilum 'october moon the top half looks fried , but I can see fat fleshy buds near the base. '

Monday, December 2, 2013

With all the talk of a prolonged freeze, I 've been going through my plant tags , I can't always remember how hardy some of the newly planted ones are. I know all the really tender ones are inside…but what about the others.I lost so many plants a few years ago !

I've made little stacks , the tallest looks like from the new Xera shop , closely followed by Cistus and Joy Creek nursery

Then there are all the local purchases and a few from the Hardy plant sales . Not a bad year for plant collecting . Now to wade through them and check which plants could use a wrap for the coming chill !